The Natural History of Wiltshire eBook

Holy-well, in the parish of Chippenham,
near Sheldon, by precipitation of one-third of a pint
with a strong lixivium, by the space of twenty-four
houres I found a sediment of the quantity of neer a
small hazell nut-shell of a kind of nitre; sc. a kind
of flower of that colour (or lime stone inclining
to yellow); the particles as big as grosse sand.
Upon evaporation of the sayd water, which was a pottle
or better, I found two sorts of sediment, perhaps
by reason of the oblique hanging of the kettle:
viz. one sort of a deep soot colour; the other
of the colour of cullom earth. It changed not
colour by infusion of powder of galles. Try it
with syrup of violettes.

Hancock’s well at Luckington is so extremely
cold that in summer one cannot long endure one’s
hand in it. It does much good to the eies.
It cures the itch, &c. By precipitation it yields
a white sediment, inclining to yellow; sc. a kind
of fine flower. I believe it is much impregnated
with nitre. In the lane that leads from hence
to Sapperton the earth is very nitrous, which proceeds
from the rich deep blew marle, which I discovered
in the lane which leads to Sapworth.

Biddle-well lies between Kington St. Michael and Swinley;
it turnes milke. In the well of the mannour house
(Mr. Thorn. Stokes) of Kington St. Michael is
found talc, as also at the well at Priory St. Maries,
in this parish; and I thinke common enough in these
parts.

In Kington St. Michael parish is a well called Mayden-well,
which I find mentioned in the Legeir-booke of the
Lord Abbot of Glaston, called Secretum Domini [or
Secretum Abbatis.] Let it be tryed. Alice Grig
knows where about it is.

In the park at Kington St. Michael is a well called
Marian’s-well, mentioned in the same Legeir-book.

In the parish of North Wraxhall, at the upper end
of ye orchard of Duncomb-mill at ye foot of ye hill
ye water petrifies in some degree; which is the onely
petrifying water that I know in this countie. [In
subsequent pages Aubrey refers to other petrifying
waters near Calne, Devizes, and elsewhere.-J.
B.]

At Draycott Cerne (the seate of my ever honoured friend
Sir James Long, Baronet, whom I name for honour’s
sake) the waters of the wells are vitriolate, and
with powder of galles doe turne of a purple colour.-[I
have a delicate, cleare, and plentifull spring at Upper
Deptford, never dry, and very neer the river Ravens-born;
the water famous for ye eyes, and many other medicinal
purposes. Sr Rich. Browne, my father-in-lawe,
immur’d it, wth a chaine and iron dish for travellers
to drink, and has sett up an inscription in white marble.-
JohnEvelyn.]
___________________________________

Stock-well, at Rowd, is in the highway, which is between
two gravelly cliffs, which in warm weather are candied.
It changed not colour with powder of galles; perhaps
it may have the effect of Epsham water. The sediment
by precipitation is a perfect white flower, Mice nitre.
The inhabitants told me that it is good for the eies,
and that it washes very well. It is used for
the making of medicines.
___________________________________